Blade and jaw construction for cylinder folding mechanisms



A. MEADOWCROFT BLADE AND JAW CONSTRUCTION FOR CYLINDER FOLDING MECHANISMS March 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1947 7 T HTITI I March 20, 1951 A. MEADOWCROFT BLADE AND JAW CONSTRUCTION FOR CYLINDER FOLDING MECHANISMS Filed 001:. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1911/67? far:

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BLADE AND JAW CONS R T ON CYLINDER FOLDING CHANIS Filed Oct. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. MEADOWCROFT BLADE AND JAW CONSTRUCTION FOR CYLINDER FOLDING MECHANISMS March 20, 1951 Flled Oct 9 1947 March 20, 1951 A MEADOWCROFT BLADE AND JAW CONSTRUCTION FOR CYLINDER FOLDING MECHANISMS Filed Oct. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 20, 1951 BLADE AND JAW CONSTRUCTION FOR CYLINDER FOLDING MECHANISMS Arthur Meadowcroft, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Rotoprint Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 9, 1947, Serial No. 778,846

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in folding mechanisms of the type commonly employed in connection with printing presses for folding one or more sheets of paper. The present invention is more particularly concerned with improvements in rotary folding mechanisms in which a tucking blade is provided on the periphery of a collector cylinder to tuck a sheet of paper between a pair of clamping jaws which are mounted on the periphery of another cylinder. The clamping jaws are arranged to grip and fold a sheet of paper inserted therebetween by the tucking blade.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an improved type of tucking blade formed with a V-shaped tucking edge for insertion between the clamping jaws.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a resilient mounting for the tucking blade to yieldably resist displacement of the latter during gripping and folding engagement by the clamping jaws.

This invention further contemplates the provision of improved means for mounting and actuating the clamping jaws.

This invention further contemplates the provision of resilient inserts, preferably formed of rubber, mounted upon the clamping jaws to grip and fold sheets of paper inserted between the jaws.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hollow clamping jaw cylinder filled with loose particles of sound absorbing material, such as cork.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction, and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating a folding mechanism embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view showing a tucking blade positioned to insert a sheet of paper to be folded between a pair of clamping jaws.

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary plan view showing the clamping jaw cylinder.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the construction of the clamping jaw face plate.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fra mentary transversesectional View, similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a better 2 understanding of this invention, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 therein, a folding mechanism is shown as comprising a collector roll I secured on a shaft 8 which is mounted at its ends in suitable bearings (not shown) provided on side frame members 9 and I I. A jaw cylinder I2 is journaled at its ends in bearings 3|3 provided on the frame members 9 and II to coact with the collector roll 9 in folding sheets of paper I4. While it is contemplated that the collector cylinder l and jaw cylinder l2 may be any suitable diameter, it is essential that these cylinders are driven at the same peripheral speed and in timed relation by any suitable means (not shown).

The collector cylinder 1 is provided with three tucking blades l6 formed with V-shaped tucking edges ll projecting outwardly from the periphery of the cylinder. While the collector cylinder l is shown provided with three tucking blades 16 equally spaced aboutthe periphery of the cylinder, it is contemplated that the collector cylinder could be provided with one or tucking blades, if desired.

Each tucking blade is mounted within a retaining block I 8 which is preferably formed in two members [9 and 2! to define a chamber 22. The members [9 and 2! are secured within a recess 23 formed in the collector cylinder 1 by means of cap screws 24. Each tucking blade IB is provided with side plates 2626 and a back plate 21, the side plates 2626 being formed with slots 28-28 to receive the ends of cross pins 29 mounted transversely in the tucking blade. Each tucking blade is normally held in its forward position with its pins 29 in engagement with the outer ends of the slots 23-28 by means of a block of rubber 3| disposed in the chamber 22 behind the back plate 21. Blocks of rubber 32-432 are provided between the side walls of the chamber 22 and the side plates 2626 to yieldably resist lateral displacement of the tucking blade I 6. As illustrated in Fig. 3 the member 2| of the retaining block [8 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 33 leading outwardlv from the chamber 22, the slot 33 being of sufficient width to permit limited lateral displacement of the tucking blade l6.

A pair of clamping jaws, indicated generally at 36 and 31, are journaled for rotational movement in a bearing block 38 which is secured by means of can screws 39 in a recess 4! formed in the jaw cylinder 12. As illustrated in Fig. 2,

the jaw cylinder I2 may be provided with two or more sets of clamping jaws, if desired, each more ,of the tucking blade is.

l6 in folding a sheet of paper M. A rocker arm 42 is secured to one end of the clamping jaw 36, the free end of the rocker arm being formed with a stud bearing 63 to receive a roller 44. A cam 46 is secured to the inner side of the frame member H by means of cap screws 47. A plurality of compression springs 48 are interposed between an abutment shoulder 49; formed on the bearing 38, and the free end of the clamping jaw 36 to normally urge the roller 44 of the rocker arm 42 into engagement with the outer surface of the cam 46. To provide simultaneous clamping or unclamping movement of the clamping jaws, the jaw 36 is provided with a plurality of gear teeth id for meshing engagement with gear teeth formed on the jaw 37. A plurality of compression springs 52 are interposed between an abutment shoulder 53 and the free end of the clamping jaw 3! to normally urge said clamping jaw toward its clamping position. The clamping jaws 36 and 37 are formed with longitudinally extending flanges 56 and 51, respectively, to receive face plates 58 and 59, respectively. The face plates 58 and. 59 are secured to their respective flanges by means of cap screws 6! and 62, respectively. As illustrated in Fig. 5, each face plate is formed with a plurality of recesses 63 to receive resilient inserts 64 which are preferably formed of rubber. It will be noted that the forward ends of the inserts 64 project beyond the front faces of the plates 58 and 59, and that the inserts also project upwardly from the side edge 65 of the respective plates. After the inserts 6d are mounted in the recesses 63, the sides of the inserts G5 are flattened at 6! to provide straight edges at 68 for engagement against the paper sheets l4. While the face plates 58 and 59 have been illustrated and described in connection with a plurality of inserts (it, it is contemplated that the l face plates could be faced with sheet rubber along their front and side edges, or with a single insert extending throughout the length of a plate.

In the operation of the folding mechanism thus described, the cylinders l and I2 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, and sheets of paper it are inserted between the clamping jaws 36 and 31 by means As illustrated in Fig. 2, the clamping jaws are disposed in their open position by means of cam 46 to receive sheets to be folded; after which, the clamping jaws are moved to their closed positions, to grip and fold the paper i l, by means of the compression springs 48 and 52. By providing a rubber facing for the clamping jaws, it has been found that the jaws and tucking blade have a longer service life, and that the rubber inserts provide a more positive engagement with the paper l4 during the gripping and folding operation. By providing a resilient mounting for the tucking blade i6, the V-shaped tucking end H is free to be moved laterally or inwardly during clamping engagement of the jaws 36 and 3'1. This movement of the tucking blade serves to permit self-alignment with the clamping jaws. The V-shaped tucking edge I I facilitates withdrawal of the tucking blade from between the clamping jaws.

Referring now to Fig. 6 in the drawings, the folding mechanism is shown as comprising a jaw cylinder ll formed with a recess '52 to receive a bearing block 73 which is secured in position by means of cap screws M. In this form of the invention, a clamping jaw 16 is journaled in the block 13 for movement into and'out of engage- 4 ment with a fixed jaw 17 provided on the block '13. In this form of the invention, a cam 46 and rocker arm 42 are employed to move the clamping jaw 16 to its open position to receive the tucking blade l6 and sheet material M. A plurality of compression springs 18 are provided to move the clamping jaw '56 to its closed position against the fixed jaw 17. The clamping jaw 16 is shown as comprising a cylindrical bearing portion 8| formed with a longitudinally extending recess 82 to receive a longitudinally extending clamping blade 83 which is formed with a plurality of recesses to receive resilient inserts 8A of the type heretofore described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5. The blade 83 is secured on the cylindrical bearing portion 8! by means of a plurality of cap screws 8&3. This form of the invention is otherwise similar to the form heretofore shown and described.

While this invention has been shown in but two forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sheet folding mechanism, a pair of rotatably mounted cylinders having their axes disposed in parallel relation, a pair of jaws mounted on and disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of one of said cylinders to grip and fold a sheet of paper insert therebetween, a tucking blade mounted on the other of said cylinders and having a top edge disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of itscylinder, the top edge of said tucking blade being formed Vs shape to tuck a sheet of paper between said jaws, said tucking blade being mounted along its sides and bottom edge in soft resilient rubber extending along the periphery and parallel with the axis of the tucking blade cylinder, the rubber acting to yieldably resist lateral and inward movement of said blade during engagement of the latter between said jaws.

2. In a sheet folding mechanism, a pair of rotatably mounted cylinders having their axes disposed in parallel-relation, a pair of jaws mounted on and disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of one of said cylinders to grip and fold a sheet of paper inserted therebetween, one of said jaws being faced with a plurality of soft resilient rubber inserts disposed at spaced intervals, a tucking blade mounted on the other of said cylinders and having a top edge disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of its cylinder, the top edge of said tucking blade being formed V-shape to tuck a sheet of paper between said jaws, said tucking blade being mounted along its sides and bottom tatably mounted cylinders having their axes dis:

posed in parallel relation, a pair of jaws mounted on and disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of one of said'cylinders to grip and fold a sheet of'paper inserted therebetwee'n;

said jaws being faced with a plurality ofs o'ft resilient rubber inserts disposed at spaced 'in tervals, a tucking. blade mounted on the other of said cylinders and having a 'top'edge disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of its cylinder, the top edge of said tucking blade being formed V-shape to tuck a sheet of paper between said jaws, said tucking blade being mounted along its sides and bottom edge in soft resilient rubber extending along the periphery and parallel with the axis of the tucking blade cylinder, the rubber acting to yieldably resist lateral and inward movement of said blade during engagement of the latter between said Jaws.

4. In a sheet folding mechanism, a pair of rotatably mounted cylinders having their axes disposed in parallel relation, a pair of jaws mounted on and disposed along the periphery and parallel with theaxis of one of said cylinders to grip and fold a sheet of paper inserted therebetween, one of said jaws being movable relative to its companion jaw, said movable jaw being faced with a plurality of resilient rubber inserts disposed at spaced intervals, a tucking blade mounted on the other of said cylinders and having a top edge disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of its cylinder, the top edge of said tucking blade being formed V-shape to tuck a sheet of paper between said jaws, said tucking blade being mounted along its sides and bottom edge in soft resilient rubber extending along the periphery and. parallel with the axis of the tucking blade cylindenthe rubber acting to yieldably resist lateral and inward movement of said blade-during engagement of the latter between said jaws.

5. In a sheet folding mechanism, a pair of rotatably moiinted cylinders having their axes disposed in parallel relation, a pair of jaws journaled on and disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of one of said cylinders to grip and fold a sheet of paper inserted therebetween, said jaws being provided along. their opposing faces with a plurality of resilient rubber inserts, said rubber inserts being" arranged at spaced intervals, the inserts on one jaw being disposed in opposing relation with respect to the inserts provided on the other jaw, a tucking blade mounted on the other of said cylinders and having a top edge disposed along the periphery and parallel with the axis of its cylinder, the top edge of said tucking blade being formed V-shape to tuck a sheet of paper between said jaws, said tucking blade being mounted along its sides and bottom edge in soft resilient rubber extending along the periphery and parallel with the axis of the tucking blade cylinder, the rubber acting to yieldably resist lateral and inward movement of said bladeduring engagement of the latter between said jaws.

6. In a sheetfolding mechanism, a pair of rotatably mounted cylinders having their axes disposed in parallel relation, a pair of jaws journaled on and disposed along the periphery and parallel wtih the axis of one of said cylinders to grip and fold a sheet of paper inserted there between, said jaws being provided along their opposing faces with a plurality of resilient rubber inserts, said rubber inserts being arranged at spaced intervals, the inserts on one jaw being disposed in opposing relation with respect to the inserts provided on the other jaw, a tucking blade mounted on the other of said cylinders and having a top edge disposed along the periphery and parallelwith the axis of its cylinder, the top edge of said tucking blade being formed V-shape to tuck a sheet of paper between said jaws, said tucking blade" being mounted along its sides and bottom edge in soft resilient rubber extending along the periphery and parallel with the axis of the tucking blade cylinder, the rubber acting to yieldably resist lateral and inward movement of said blade during engagement of the latter between said jaws, spring means to normally hold said jaws in clamping engagement, and cam means to move said jaws out of clamping engagement.

ARTHUR MEADOWCROFT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,050,191 White Jan. 14, 1913 1,372,173 Lazar Mar. 22, 1921 1,413,841 Fallot Apr. 25, 1922 1,452,824 Bosworth Apr. 24, 1923 1,561,908 Cannard Nov. 17, 1925 1,675,559 Jacobson July 3, 1928 1,881,816 Meyer Oct. 11, 1932 2,449,663 Marcalus Sept. 21, 1948 

